Stadium seating structure or the like



Oct. 31, 1961 3,006,689

R. P. EPPINK STADIUM SEATING STRUCTURE OR THE-LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 15, 1959 INVENTOR.

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Oct. 31, 1961 R. P. EPPINK 3,006,689

STADIUM SEATING STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE Filed May 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Offlce 3,006,689 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 3,006,689 STADIUM SEATING STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE Reno P. Eppink, Whittier, Calif. California Church Furniture Co., 11900 Center St., Hollydale, Calif.) Filed May 15, 1959, Ser. No. 813,442 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-457) This invention relates to stadium seating or the like.

Stadium seating often has been provided by boards extending across spaced standards to form a bench, sometimes with a back and sometimes without. The public justifiably has become increasingly demanding in provisions for comfortable stadium seating. The primary object of this invention is to satisfy this demand and, at the same time, actually reduce costs in material, installation and maintenance.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stadium structure or the like that has contour and yieldable characteristics for purposes of comfort. For this purpose, use is made of a novel unitary back and seat structure. An incidental but important advantage of this arrangement is that on person can be kicked by another from the row behind. A serious source of discomfort is accordingly avoided.

An important object of this invention is to provide a stadium bench that is compact so that the space available is used efiiciently from the standpoint of maximum comfort and seating. For this purpose, the back at the area of the toe and knees of the person in the row behind is exceedingly thin. Accordingly, leg room is maximized.

Furthermore, an object of this invention is to make it possible to provide arm rests without detracting from eflicient seating. A novel arm rest structure is provided for this purpose that is essentially in the form of an I- beam. It is sufliciently strong for its intended purposes, yet the central web makes it possible for the thickness of the arm rest to be minimal. Accordingly, no cramping is caused by the arm rests and no additional longitudinal spacing between adjacent seats is required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stadium seat structure that is exceptionally strong and durable despite its compactness.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stadium seat that is easily maintained. 'For this purpose, the structure is made of molded Fiberglas material of a type the weather-resisting characteristics of which have been adequately demonstrated in connection with small water craft. Painting is not required. It is merely necessary to hose off the seats much as boats made of Fiberglas material are hosed oif. To ensure adequate drainage despite the contour characteristics of the bench, weep holes are provided.

Furthermore, to facilitate maintenance, the foundation for the bench is so designed that it clears the floor. The floor can be swept or hosed effectively and easily. Further simplifying the maintenance problem is the dipping of the foundation for the bench into plastic material such as Fiberglas so that a permanent weather-resisting characteristic is obtained and the entire structure is uniformly free of maintenance.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stadium seat that is aesthetically pleasing. For this purpose, the contours are simple and modern. Also, the Fiberglas material may be solution-dyed and a permanent color characteristic can readily be obtained.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved stadium bench structure of this character that is readily installed. For this purpose, novel standards are utilized that require attachment only to the vertical step face of the foundation. Not only does this arrangement incidentally solve the object of providing free, unobstructed space beneath the benches for sweeping, but it makes possible this mode of installation: A series of Y-brackets are placed along the step face at a spacing corresponding approximately, but not necessarily exactly, to the span of two seats. Latitude is provided and clearance is readily established on opposite sides of beams, for example, that often, and for structural reasons, run through the step faces and floors. No precision work is required on the part of the concrete contractor if any at all, the intent being that the improved bench be fastened to tthe foundation in situ.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of several embodiments of the invention. For this purpose, there are shown a few forms in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. These forms will now be described in detail, illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial view of a portion of a stadium structure incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken specifically to show one of the supporting standards;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged fragmentary sectional views showing in detail portions of the structure;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along a plane corresponding to line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating an alternate standard the use of which may be necessary where the step in the row behind is inaccessible; and

FIG. 7 illustrates an alternate bench construction that may be usable for purposes other than stadium seating.

In FIG. 1 there is illustrated a structural foundation 10 that is stepped for purposes of successive tier seating in a customary manner. The foundation 10 in this example is made of cast concrete but foundations made of other materials are equally capable of supporting the improved seating structure.

The foundation 10 includes successive floors 11 and vertical step faces 12. The steps are too steep, however, for climbing and descending in the aisles. Hence, supplemental steps 13 are formed in the aisles.

The seating structure comprises essentially a bench 30 and a series of standards 20 attached to the foundation 10 to form a series of spaced supports for the bench 30.

That portion of bench 30 that forms the outer surface of the seat and back is made of thin Fiberglas material in which dyes are included for decorative effects. The seat 30a of the bench and the back 30b of the bench are integrally formed.

The upper end of the bench back 30b (FIG. 3) is rearwardly and downwardly curved to form a downwardly opening at a recess 300. The end of the seat 30a returns to form a rearwardly facing recess 30d located beneath the seat 30a (FIG. 4).

The Fiberglas material from which the bench is made is purposely thin and flexible. It requires reinforcement. For this purpose, reinforcing beams 31, 32, 33 and 34 of wood, metal, or plastic material are provided. The beams 31 and 32 are located respectively beneath the center of the seat 30a and behind the center of the back 30b. Pocket forming members 35 and 36 cooperate with the bench proper to enclose the beams 31 and 32. The pocket members 35 and 36 are Fiberglas strips, the sides of the strips forming tabs 35a and 36a respectively bonded to the Fiberglas material of the bench proper.

the recess.

The reinforcing beam 33 is inserted into the recess 30c, thereby reinforcing the upper edge of the back.

The'beam 33 (FIG. 3) extruded or otherwise formed is milled so that its cross-section conforms to that of But the lower surface 33a of the beam; 33 isflat' Y a The beam 34 (FIG. 4) reinforces the forward corner of the seat in a similar manner, the beam 34 fitting the recess 30d. The rearsurface 341': of the beam 34 is likewise flat.

\As thus far described, it will be noted that the apex of the bench between the back 3012 and the seat 30a is free from direct reinforcement. This area of the bench, which is highly important from the standpoint of comfort, yields slightlybut is yet firm. Comfortable support is accordingly achieved.

The bench 30 is supported by the aid of the standards 20 located in spaced relationship along the bench. Each standard 20 comprises three parts 21, 22 and 23 mutually welded together to form a unitary structure. All

three parts arereadily made of-angle iron-material. One

of the parts 21 is vertically disposed along the step face 12, and is attached thereto by the aid of fasteners 24. Th e'second part 22 projects generally horizontally and slightly upwardly from the upper end of the part 21.

' The third part 23 projects upwardly and slightly rearwardly from the corner between the angle iron parts 21 and 22. f

The angle iron part 22 extends beneath the seat 30a. Itsupper flange 22a engages thebeam 31. 'No other parts of the bench proper engage the part 22, the beam :31'serving as a spacer. A screw (not shown) fastens the beam 31-to the flange 22a. The forward end of the upper flange22ais bent downwardly (FIG. 4) as at 22b to about the flat rearwardly exposed surface 34a of the corner'beam 34. -A-screw 26 secures the corner beam 34 to the tab 22b.

The third" part 23 of the standard extends behind the bench back 3%. One flange 23a of the part 23' engages along the back of the beam 32. No other part of the bench proper'engages the part 23,-the beam 32 serving as a spacer. A screw 27 fastens the beam 32 to the part 23. a

The .upper end of the flange 23a is bent rearwardly (FIG. 3) to form a tab 23b abutting the flat downwardly exposed surface 33aof the corner beam 33. A screw 28 fastens the corner beam 33 to the tab 23b.

The fasteners 24 for the vertical part 21 may be supported by plugs inserted in holes in the step face of the concrete foundation. These holes can be drilled as a part of the bench installation, or they may be provided by the concrete contractor. The plugs are of a standard type in which they become firmly wedged in placeas the fasteners are tightened.

The entire support 20 can be coated with weatherresisting-plastic,"as by dipping in Fiberglas.

-Arm rests 40 are placed alongthe bench 30 as indicatedin FIGS. 1 and 5. 'The cross-section of the arm rests 40 corresponds substantially to that of anI-beam. The upper flange 41 has downwardly turned edges, and serves as the rest proper, and the lower flange 42 serves as a means'for fastening to the bench at the reinforcing beam31. The lower flange 42 continues rearwardly and upwardly, as shown in FIG. 1, where the arm rest is fastened to the bench back 30b to provide lateral stabilitylrwn A Anend rest 43 is formed integrally with an end panel 44 that finishes the end of the'bench 30. A block 47 formed about the corner; The panel may be secured ''by the aid of screws 45 entering the ends of the beams or. in any other suitable manner. Aisle lights, 'as at 46,

' inay be installed inthe end panel 44.

Cushions may be provided if v desired. As shown 5, the cushions are fastened to the seats by bolts 7. 1 passing through thereinforcing beam 31. The covers for ithe cushions are desirably waterproofed so that they pears at 61, support the ends of reinforcing beams 31, 32, 33 and 34. A supplemental Fiberglas panel 65 is sewill quickly dry after the seats are hosed off. Worn cushions are easily replaced, as for example, at the start rofraseason. I

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated an alternate standard 50 that may be needed, for example, at the final row in the -rstaditrrn-wherea step face 12'is not provided. Thestandzazrd :50 comprisesfour angle iron parts 51, 52,53'and 54 welded together to' form a unitary structure. One of the parts 51 extends upwardly from the floor and along :fh'e backof the bench where it is secured to the' b eams 32 :and 33. V The part 52 contacts the floor and extends foriwardly from the lower end of the part 51. The third part forms a front leg; and the fourth part 54, extending lbeneath the seat, is supported byithe parts 51 and53. -A

weep hole, as at 55' is illustrated, at the back of the seat for drainage purposes.-

H Desirably the rear of the bench 30 is not enclosed. .The

leg room in the row behind is maximized. However, an

. (enclosing panel could be provided;

Thus in FIG. 7, a bench in the form of achurch pew is illustrated in which a more finished appearance is :achieved. In this example, end frames, one of which apcured to the beam 32 and provides a finished surface visible from the row behind. The panel curves. foriwardly and terminates at the seat.

The inventor claims:

i. In combination: a unitary bench made of thin mairerial-of substantially uniformcross-section and having zthe characteristics of Fiberglas; said unitary bench having :a seat portion and a back portion; saidbench having Flongitudinally uniform reinforcing means including a first reinforcing beam extending along the rear of the. back portion, and a second reinforcing beam extending beneath a vertical step face: a unitary bench made of thin material of substantially uniform cross-section, andhaving a seat port on and a back portion; longitudinally uniform reinforcing means including afirstreinforcing beam extendmg along the rear ofthe back portion, and a second reinforcing beamextending beneath the seat portion; longitudinally extending pocket means enclosing the'reinforcing beams for securing the beams to the bench; said pocket means and the material comprisingthe, bench havingitlie characteristics of Fiberglas 1 and being bonded to each other; and a plurality of supportsfor the behdh; eachsupport having three arms, one arm lying against the'step face of the stadium foundation, and secured thereto, the sec- 0nd arm extending behind thebench back'portion and secured to said first beam, and the third armextending Beneath the bench seat portion and securedto said second 7 v v v 3' References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Qfla r fl ns on l owin Pag UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,572,482 Hoven et a1. Oct. 23, 1951 2,711,786 Weiss June 28, 1955 1,383,771 Skidmore July 5, 1921 2,731,078 Cadman et a1. Jan. 17, 1956 1,531,184 Hodges Mar. 24, 1925 2,738,832 Torkelson Mar. 20, 1956 1,721,601 McClure July 23, 1929 5 2,838,100 Follows June 10, 1958 2,113,103 Yost Apr. 5, 1938 2,886,098 Hoven et a1 May 12, 1959 2,258,864 Rieger Oct. 14, 1941 2,900,014 Savage et a1 Aug. 18, 1959 2,518,532 Edwards Aug. 15, 1950 2,907,378 Barecki Oct. 6, 1959 2,568,896 Morgan et a1. Sept. 25, 1951 2,921,622 Henrikson et a1. Jan. 19, 1960 

